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Mace forces residents to evacuate Barbour

The Department of Public Safety evacuated about 300 residents of Betsey Barbour residence hall from the building at about 12:10 this morning after an odor permeated the third and fourth floors of the dorm.

Sgt. Janet Jablonski said the odor was caused by the spraying of mace gas, although DPS is still conducting an investigation as to how the gas was released.

Residents, most clothed in pajamas, were let back into Betsey Barbour at 12:40 a.m., after Occupational Safety and Environmental Health officials were called to the scene and declared it safe to re-enter.

"It takes a little bit to dissipate," Jablonski said. "It's not going to harm you permanently, though."

However, many residents became teary-eyed and gagged after returning to their rooms.

"I can't breathe," said LSA junior Vicky Gazouleas. "They say we can come back in, but I can't breathe in this. I'm going home (to Farmington Hills) to sleep."

DPS Officer David Gates told residents to keep their doors and windows open until the gas dissipated and asked anyone with information on the source of the mace to inform the campus police.

Resident Adviser Roma Bhalla said she learned of the odor when two of her residents knocked on her door complaining that the smell made them cough and gag.

"There was something in your throat," Roma said, "like you started gagging."

Roma and other residence hall staff, after calling security, knocked on doors to tell residents to leave. Minutes later, an alarm went off and the entire building was evacuated.